Candidates to debate Dracut's future

DRACUT -- Hearing Dracut Police Chief Kevin Richardson and Fire Chief David Brouillette talk about how poorly staffed their departments are should be enough to worry any resident.

To hear School Superintendent Steven Stone talk about how technologically inadequate many of the town's schools are should be enough to concern any parent.

The town has a plan to address all three problems. On May 2, residents will be asked to raise their own property taxes to direct one sum of $560,000 to the police and fire departments to hire six additional officers and three firefighters.

In another Proposition 2 1/2 override question, residents will be asked to direct $550,000 to the School Department, an amount Stone said will go a long way to address technology deficiencies.

All three managers, plus Town Manager Jim Duggan, shared their views with The Sun's editorial board Monday.

But how do those residents running for the Board of Selectmen and School Committee view the three departments? And are they, under their current leadership, worthy of such investments?

Find out on April 20, when The Sun will sponsor a debate at Harmony Hall at 7 p.m.

The event will actually be two debates: one, for 45 minutes, featuring the three candidates running for two seats on the School Committee; the other, for 60 minutes, focusing on the four candidates running for two seats on the Board of Selectmen.

The School Committee race features incumbent Betsy Murphy and challengers Tim Woods and Allison Volpe.

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Woods is the district's former athletic director and Volpe is a parent with two kids in local schools. Current committee member Michael McNamara is not seeking re-election.

The race for selectman features incumbents Anthony Archinski, the board's current chairman, and Cathy Richardson. Challengers are Jesse Forcier and Phil Thibault. Forcier is currently on the town Planning Board and Housing Authority, while Thibault is a member of the Permanent Building Committee.

The debate will be moderated by Sun Enterprise Editor Christopher Scott. No opening statements will be made, but candidates will be given an opportunity for closers.

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